Russia lost $220 mln in government purchase contracts fraud in 2011January 17, 2012 - 11:07 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia’s federal budget lost over 7 billion rubles ($220 mln) in 2011 due to crimes related to government purchase contracts, a senior state investigator said. “As of November 2011, the courts reviewed more than 200 criminal cases of this kind,” Deputy Chairman of the Russian Investigative Committee Vasily Piskarev said in an interview with the Moscow News daily published on Tuesday, Jan 17. “The damages to the state caused by these crimes amount to over seven billion rubles,” Piskarev said. More that 130 criminal cases were opened last year as a result of the probes into price fixing during the purchases of tomographic scanners under several federal medical care programs. “At present, 96 officials, including 36 former and current regional health ministers are facing charges related to these cases,” the official said, RIA Novosti reported. Russia ranks 143rd out of 182 countries in Transparency International's 2011 Corruption Perceptions Index, described as the world’s most corrupt major economy. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. |